Compressor for valve springs of engine with overhead valves



I March 12, 1963 E. H. MORELAND COMPRESSOR FOR VALVE SPRINGS OF ENGINE WiTH OVERHEAD VALVES Filed Dec. 14. 1959 INVENTO/P ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofihce 3,080,645 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 3,080,645 COMPRESSOR FOR VALVE SPRINGS 8F ENGHQE WITH GVERHEAD VALVES Etheihert H. Moreland, 290 San Hose Ave, San lose, Calif. Filed Dec. 14, 1959. Ser. No. 859,285 2 (liairns. ((31. 25 -21 5) The present invention relates to a valve spring compressor, and pertains more particularly to such a compressor for use on an internal combustion engine having the rocker arms thereof individually mounted on separate studs.

In large numbers of automobiles, for example, Chevrolet and Pontiac automobiles in the model years 1955 through 1960, the engine have been provided with such an overhead valve structure. These engines have an O- ring seal mounted each intake and exhaust valve stem near its upper end to prevent oil from the rocker arm chamber from traveling down along the valve stem, through the valve guides, and thence being drawn into the combustion chamber. Such oil travel would cause loss of oil and fouling of the spark plugs. These O-ring seals are subject to rupture during engine operation, requiring their occasional replacement.

Some prior valve spring compressors used for compressing the valve springs of such engines, either to permit replacement of these seals, or for valve grinding or replacement, are rather large, cumbersome devices, slow to manipulate, and require the removal of parts pertaining to power steering and air conditioning equipment when such equipment is provided.

The present invention provides a simple, compact valve spring compressor which can be mounted on a stud adjacent a valve spring of certain types of automotive engines, and which will, upon manipulation of an actuating element provided thereon, initially grip such stud, and wili then compress the valve spring associated with that stud.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve spring compressor having one portion thereof adapted for mounting on a support stud, and having a second portion hingedly mounted on said one portion and provided with arms adapted to overlie and engage a valve spring assembly, actuating means being provided for rocking the second portion relative to the first portion to compress a valve spring engaged by the arms of the second portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified valve spring compressor for use on an internal combustion engine having a stud projecting from the cylinder head adjacent a valve spring assembly of such engine.

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an end portion of a cylinder head of an automotive engine showing portions of two valve actuating mechanisms thereof, the nearer of said valve mechanisms having the rocker arm thereof removed, and a valve spring compressor embodying the present invention mounted on the rocker arm support stud thereof.

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1, and showing a double, coaxial valve spring.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, an intermediate portion of the actuating screw being broken away.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, but showing the parts in the position they occupy before compressing the valve spring.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken as along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, but with the compressor removed from the rocker arm support stud.

Briefly, the illustrated form of the invention comprises a valve spring compressor A, having hingedly connected upper and lower portions 10 and 11, and actuated by a screw 12 screwed through a threaded hole provided therefor in a trunnion mounted rear element 13 of the upper portion 10. For the purposes of the present description, the right hand end of the compressor A, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, shall be considered the forward end, and the left hand end thereof shall be considered the rearward end. Aligned holes 14 and 15 (FIG. 2) are provided in the lower portion 11 to receive a rocker arm support stud B therein and thus to mount the compressor A on the stud.

The upper portion 10 has a pair of forwardly extending curved arms 17 and 18 thereon adapted to engage opposite sides of a valve spring retainer 19. By screwing the actuating screw 12 downwardly through the trunnioned member 13, and with the rounded lower end of the screw 12 seated in a recess 20 provided therefor in the lower portion 11, the rear ends of the two portions 10 and 11 are thereby swung apart. This action first tilts the lower portion 11 counter-clockwise into gripping relation with the stud B and thereafter urges the curved arms 17 and 18 downwardly, as shown in solid lines in FIG 2, to compress the valve spring, which, in FIG. 2 is illustrated as double, co-axial springs C and Ca. This permits the valve stem D to be raised sufficiently to permit the removal of the usual split collar 21 which anchors the spring retainer 19 to the valve stem D.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the lower portion 11 of the spring compressor A is of shallow, channel cross sectional shape, as best shown in FIG. 3, with a fiat, bottom plate 22 and the side flanges 23 and 24 thereof tapering rearwardly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. An integral bridge 25 extends transversely between the upper edges of the forward ends of the side flanges 23 and 24, in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom plate 22.

The axially aligned holes 14 and 15 (FIG. 2) are provided in the bottom plate 22, and in the bridge 25, respectively, these holes being of a size to freely receive therein a rocker arm support stud B of an engine E for which the compressor is designed. Upwardly extending, integral side arms 27 and 28 are provided, one on each side of the forward end of the lower portion 11, and are spaced apart to receive the upper portion 10 of the compressor A for rocking movement therebetween.

The upper portion 10 comprises a transverse top plate 29 with downturned side flanges 30 and 31. These side flanges 30 and 31 are pivotally connected, by co-axially mounted bolts 32 and 33, to the upper ends of the side arms 27 and 28 of the lower portion 11.

A longitudinally slotted opening 34 is provided in the transverse top plate 29 of a size to provide clearance for a rocker arm support stud in any pivotally adjusted position of the upper portion 10 relative to the lower portion 11 in the event that the compressor A should be mounted on a rocker arm support stud (not shown) of sufficient length to require such clearance.

The trunnioned screw support member 13, which is of suitable material, such as, for example, steel rod, has trunnion support in axially aligned holes 35 provided therefor one in each rearward extension 37 of the two side flanges 30 and 31. The actuating screw 12, which is screwed into a threaded hole provided therefor medially of the trunnioned screw support member 13, is preferably threaded throughout substantially its entire length, and is of sufiicient length to require such clearance. clockwise direction relative to the lower portion 11 to a point where the side flanges 30 and 31 of the upper portion engage the bridge 25 and thus arrest further clockwise movement of said upper portion.

The side flanges 30 and 31 of the upper portion 10 also project forwardly beyond the plate 29 to form the spring compressing arms 17 and 18. These arms are curved first downwardly as at 17a (FIG. 2) and then upwardly as at 17b. Each of the arms is provided with an inwardly extending flange 38, curved to conform to the similarly curved lower edge of its supporting arm. Each inward flange 38 is spaced upwardly slightly fromthe lower edge of its supporting arm as shown at 39 in FIG. 4, to assist in centering the arms, and to resist lateral slippage thereof relative to a spring retainer 19 when brought into pressure bearing relation therewith.

The curved flanges 38 are so located as to bear on aspring retainer 19 on diametrically opposite sides of a valve stem D upon which such spring retainer is mounted, and are spaced apart by a distance greater than the diameter of a usual split, spring-retainer, anchoring collar 21 so as to permit such collar to pass upwardly between these flanges upon compression of its associated valve spring or springs C and Ca as shown in FIG. 2, thereby permitting removal of the split collar and a usual rubber seal ring 42 from the valve stem. Since the parts of the two valve spring assemblies shown in FIG. 1 are substantially identical, those of the farther assembly will be designated by the same reference numerals as those of the nearer assembly, but with the prime added.

In operating the spring compressor A, a rocker arm, such as the rocker arm F of FIG. 1, is first removed from its operative position on its supporting stud B, by removing the usual rocker arm retainer nut 40'. If desired, the associated push rod G also may be withdrawn from the engine, but if such rod is not long enough to interfere with the operation of the spring compressor A, it may be left in place, as shown by the push rod G of FIGS. 1 and 2.

After removal of the rocker arm F, the valve compressor A is prepared for use by screwing the actuating screw 12 upwardly sufficiently to permit the rear end of the upper portion 10 to be rocked well downwardly relative to the lower portion 11 as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2. The compressor A is then mounted on the rocker arm support stud B by inserting the latter into the holes 14 and 15, and is moved downwardly on the stud as far as it will go, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.

With the rounded lower end of the actuating screw 12 riding in the recess or depression 20 provided therefor in the transverse lower plate 22, the screw 12 is then screwed downwardly, either manually or by means of a suitable wrench (not shown), to rock the upper portion 10 in a clockwise direction relative to the lower portion 11 about the common axis of the bolts 32 and 33. This action swings the forward ends of the curved arms 17 and 18 downwardly toward their solid line position of FIG. 2, causing the arm flanges 38 to bear on the spring retainer 19. Initially, the pressure of the arms on the spring retainer tilts the lower member 11 in a counterclockwise direction, causing the rear edge of the hole 14,

and the forward edge of the hole 15 to bind on the stud B in a Well known manner. Continued turning of the screw 12 in the same direction lowers the arms and thereby compresses the double valve spring C and Ca, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and thus permits the removal of the usual split anchor collar 21 and the seal ring 42 as is apparent in FIG. 2.

After removal of the split anchor collar 21 and seal ring 42, the screw 12 may be screwed upwardly to permit the upper portion 10 to swing in a counter-clockwise direction until the double valve spring C and Ca is fully extended and the arms 17 and 18 are clear of the spring retainer 19. This frees the compressor A from the counter-clockwise tilting moment imposed upon it by the pressure of the arms 17 and 18 on the double valve spring C and Ca, and thereby frees the entire compressor A for upward removal from the stud B. This, in turn, frees the valve spring retainer 19, and the double valve spring C and Ca for removal from the valve stem D. The double valve spring C and Ca, spring retainer 19 and split collar 21 may be reassembled on the valve stem D by reversing the removal procedure described in the preceding paragraphs.

The present invention provides a simple, inexpensive and effective valve spring compressor for use on engines having an overhead valve actuating mechanism wherein rocker arms are mounted on individual studs provided one for each thereof. The invention can be used either for inspecting or replacing any of the O-ring valve stem seals 42 of such engines, or, with the cylinder head removed from the engine and placed on a bench, for a complete valve job. In either case the invention provides a valve spring compressor which is light, quick, and easy to manipulate, and, in the former case, frequently requires the removal of much less accessory equipment for mounting it on an engine stud for use.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood, however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A valve spring compressor for an engine having a stud projecting therefrom laterally adjacent a valve and valve spring assembly; said compressor comprising a pair of relatively inverted, superposed, channel portions, hinge means extending upwardly from one end of the lower of said portions and hingedly connected to a central zone of the upper of said portions for relative rocking movement of said portions, a bridge extending transversely of the web of the lower channel portion, and spaced upwardly therefrom, said bridge and said web each having axially aligned holes therein to receive and grip said stud, thereby to fixedly mount said lower portion on such stud, a pair of arms formed on an end of the upper portion and extending substantially beyond said one end of the lower portion, said arms being formed to overlie and engage diametrically opposite sides of the upper end of a valve spring adjacent a stud inserted in the axially aligned holes, and actuating means operatively engaging the upper portion for urging downwardly the arms of the upper portion when said arms are overlying and engaging the upper end of a valve spring for compressing such spring.

2. A valve spring compressor for an engine having a stud projecting therefrom laterally adjacent a valve and valve spring assembly; said compressor comprising a pair of relatively superposed portions, hinge means hingedly interconnecting one end of the lower of said portions to a central zone of the upper of said portions for relative rocking movement of said portions, said lower portion having spaced apart upper and lower parts 3,080,645 5 6 at least at the end thereof adjacent the hinge means and arms of the upper portion when said arms are overlying having aligned holes therethrough to receive and grip said and engaging the upper end of a valve spring for comstud, thereby to fixedly mount said lower portion on such pressing such spring. stud, a pair of arms formed on an end of the upper portion and extending substantially beyond said one end 5 References Cited in the file of this Patent of the lower portion, said arms being formed to overlie UNITED STATES PATENTS and engage diametrically opposite sides of the upper end 162,866 Squire May 4, 1875 of a valve spring adjacent said stud inserted in the 39 33 SWenSon Aug 18,1903 axially aligned holes, and actuating means operatively 1,729,73 Clary Oct 1, 9

engaging the upper portion for urging downwardly the 10 2,613,243 Frear Oct. 7, 1952 

1. A VALVE SPRING COMPRESSOR FOR AN ENGINE HAVING A STUD PROJECTING THEREFROM LATERALLY ADJACENT A VALVE AND VALVE SPRING ASSEMBLY; SAID COMPRESSOR COMPRISING A PAIR OF RELATIVELY INVERTED, SUPERPOSED, CHANNEL PORTIONS, HINGE MEANS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM ONE END OF THE LOWER OF SAID PORTIONS AND HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO A CENTRAL ZONE OF THE UPPER OF SAID PORTIONS FOR RELATIVE ROCKING MOVEMENT OF SAID PORTIONS, A BRIDGE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE WEB OF THE LOWER CHANNEL PORTION, AND SPACED UPWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID BRIDGE AND SAID WEB EACH HAVING AXIALLY ALIGNED HOLES THEREIN TO RECEIVE AND GRIP SAID STUD, THEREBY TO FIXEDLY MOUNT SAID LOWER PORTION ON SUCH STUD, A PAIR OF ARMS FORMED ON AN END OF THE UPPER PORTION AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND SAID ONE END OF THE LOWER PORTION, SAID ARMS BEING FORMED TO OVERLIE AND ENGAGE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE UPPER END OF A VALVE SPRING ADJACENT A STUD INSERTED IN THE AXIALLY ALIGNED HOLES, AND ACTUATING MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE UPPER PORTION FOR URGING DOWNWARDLY THE ARMS OF THE UPPER PORTION WHEN SAID ARMS ARE OVERLYING AND ENGAGING THE UPPER END OF A VALVE SPRING FOR COMPRESSING SUCH SPRING. 